Tennis Fiji is sending a team of 15 junior players to represent Fiji at the West Pacific Regional Qualifiers Championship in Vanuatu next month.
The players held their final training session at the Lautoka Regional Tennis Centre yesterday before they leave Fiji towards the end of the month, with the qualifiers scheduled to take place from May 1-7.
Tennis Fiji president Rajiv Singh said the players underwent a two-week trial period in order to book their spots in the team.
“The players are super excited to travel out of Fiji and represent the nation in one of the biggest Junior Pacific Championship Qualifiers,” he said.
National junior head coach for the West Pacific qualifiers Andrew Mailtorok said the team had been preparing for one month.
“The player categories going are under-12, U14 and U16 in both boys and girls divisions.
“It is a very important tournament because after the tournament and if they qualify, they will play the best from the East and North, with a possible opportunity to travel to Australia and New Caledonia for more exposure.”
Mailtorok said the tournament would give the players a chance to taste top-level competition.
“A lot of our players have the potential to compete at the top level and they need to be more often exposed to such competitions and that would prepare them for the following years.”
The team will play against Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the tournament.
Two coaches and a team manager will accompany the team.
